Really Stupid questions

skinny_bre

I fell off the health wagon almost a year ago and along with doing so I have forgotten most of the health related things I learned. I am just getting back into using this site and like when I am done eating and exercising for the day is my "net" supposed to be negative?

Also I was trying to calculate exactly how many calories I should be eating to lose 2 pounds a week. I started with MFP's automatic calculations and it said eating 1200 calories a day will make me lose .80 of a pound a week. That doesn't seem quite right to me. I am extremely sedentary due to illness which probably affects my BMR (according to mfp its 1660). I would really like to lost at least 2 pounds a week so how much should I really be eating? I am going to trying to burn 100-200 calories maybe 3 times a week.

amybg1

MFP's calorie requirements are very low, I would suggest looking up a BMR calculator. Fat2Fit radio's a good start and eating 20-30% less and seeing how that works out for you.

Your net shouldn't be in the negative when it comes to calories if it is you must eat more

millkins

I think 1200 calories is the minimum mpf recommends as I can't seem to get mine to correspond to the 2lb/ week loss I've said I want to achieve.

skinny_bre

So what is your net supposed to be? Is it your deficit?

Cheeky_0102

your net should be just under your daily requirements after exercise. for example, I eat 1500 calories in a day, I exercise 300 away, my net is 1200, which is a 500 calories lower than the 1700 I need to maintain my weight where it is right now

HSingMomto7Kids

I would start with 1 lb a week first.

freelancejouster

Your net should always be at LEAST your BMR, but find it on a different website than this one.

AmyRhubarb

The way MFP is set up, your net should be your daily goal. That means eating back your exercise cals.